Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has urged his people to stand firm in the face of Russian aggression as the country celebrates Christmas.
In a defiant speech on Saturday, he said: “Freedom comes at a high price. But slavery costs even more.”
Russian missile and drone strikes have left millions of Ukrainians without electricity, heating and running water.
Earlier on Saturday, 10 people were killed in Russian airstrikes in the southern Ukrainian city of Kherson, officials said.
Regional authorities said another 68 people were injured and appealed to local residents to donate blood immediately.
Calling Russia a “terrorist country”, Mr Zelensky accused Russian soldiers of “killing for fear and pleasure”.
In a post on social media, he showed images of streets strewn with bodies and burning cars, saying “the world must see and understand what absolute evil we are fighting against”.
Kherson, the only Russian-held regional capital since it launched its full-scale offensive on February 24, was liberated by Ukraine last month.
Since then it has been frequently targeted by Russian forces stationed on the left (eastern) bank of the Dnipro River.
Moscow has repeatedly denied targeting civilians in its attacks. However, President Vladimir Putin has recently admitted that Russian forces are targeting key Ukrainian energy facilities.
Most Ukrainians are Orthodox Christians, and celebrate Christmas Eve – the main day of the country’s festive season – on January 6.
However, an increasing number of worshipers are celebrating the day on December 24, as is the majority of Christians worldwide.
In a video address to the nation late on Saturday, Mr Zielinski said: “We endured at the beginning of the war, we endured attacks, threats, nuclear blackmail, terrorism, missile attacks. Let’s endure this winter. Do it because we know what we are fighting for
“We will celebrate our holidays! As always. We will smile and be happy. As always. The difference is one. We will not wait for a miracle. After all, we create it ourselves.”
For many Ukrainians, Christmas will be dark and cold, says JEE News.
But Ukrainians say the hardships have made them stronger, as the war enters its 11th month, our correspondent added.
Fierce fighting continued in Ukraine’s eastern Donbass region on Saturday as Russian troops stormed the strategic city of Bakhmut.
